The Washington State “Spring Blade” Ban Repeal bill, SB 5782, was voted out of the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee 10-2 with a “do pass” recommendation. The bill was amended to limit blade length to 3.5 inches.
The existing exemption for manufacturing and sales of these knives to first responders that was enacted with Knife Rights critical lobbying support in 2012 was reinstated so that they can continue to do so for knives with blades over 3.5 inches.
Without Knife Rights’ lobbying, this bill was dead in the House. The bill’s hearing had been rescheduled multiple times because the votes were not there to pass it. Todd Rathner, Knife Rights Director of Legislative Affairs spent three days in Olympia turning things around so the bill could move forward.
There’s still lots of work for Todd to do in Olympia. The bill must still be voted on by the full House. Assuming it passes, then the amended bill must be confirmed by the Senate and then the Governor has to act. Knife Rights will continue to fight on the ground in Olympia to get this bill passed and allow civilian possession of “spring blade knives” in Washington State for the first time since the 1950s.
Knife Rights will let you know as soon as it is appropriate to engage House members to support SB 5782.
Since 2010 Knife Rights has been Rewriting Knife Law in America™ with 30 bills repealing knife bans enacted in 22 States, forging a Sharper Future for all Americans™. Knife Rights is the one getting it done™ for America’s knife owners and knifemakers.